BAY CITY - The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team has been selected to finish in seventh place in the 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Lady Cardinals received 90 points to finish in the #7 slot in the poll, just one point shy of sixth place Northern Michigan University. Grand Valley State University was picked to win the league for the 2014 season.
SVSU GLIAC Preview
The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team looks to improve on the GLIAC Quarterfinals showing it had last year, falling in double overtime literally as time expired to Michigan Tech by a score of 1-0. The Lady Cardinals bring back a ton of experience, including a pair of student-athletes who led the team's offensive charge during their freshman campaigns.
Sophomore forward Jennifer Goethals returns after leading the team with 24 points, netting eight goals and as many assists for the Cards. Goethals garnered Second Team All-GLIAC honors during her first season. Fellow sophomore forward Ashley Henderson led the team last year with 10 goals, adding three assists for 23 points.
Both players had three game-winning goals for SVSU. Returning to anchor the defense will be senior Shelby Thompson, who started all 17 matches last year. Junior Presley Tibbetts, who was All-GLIAC Honorable Mention a year ago, will also return as the third-leading returner in terms of scoring.
Saginaw Valley opens its 2014 season on the road, where it will play Indianapolis on September 5th at 1:00 pm and Bellarmine on September 7th at noon in a tournament at Tiffin University.
